Improvement in seed-planters



W. BROWN.

EBED 'PLANTER.

NO. 46,615. Patented Feb. 28, 1865.

(K W Mm.

"Qt/ un: a a4 UNITED STATES PATEW I GEORGE w. BROWN, or GALESBURG,ILLINOIS."

IMPROVEMENT IN SEED-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46,615, dated February28, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, GEORGE W. BROWN, 01 Galesburg, in the county of Knox,in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Machines for Planting Seed; and I do hereby r'leclarethat the follow ing is a full and exact descriptionthereof.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. Theperspective view exhibits the general appearance of the machine andpositions of the operators when it is used to plantin check-rows. Theremaining figures exhibit the details of the machine.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the entire.machiue on the line S S in Fig. 2, on a scale of about two inchesto'the foot. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the entire machine. In both thesefigures the seed-hoppers are represented as with their covers removed. Iemploy covers of the usual character. Fig. 3 is a cross-section showingthe construction of one of the adjustable connections,whieh are adjusted'by changing'the positions of the bolts so as to widen and narrowthe entire machine, including the reciprocating seed-bar H H H Fig. 4 isa corresponding section, showing the same connection as it appears afterthe machine has been adjusted for planting rows nearer together. Fig. 5is a vertical section through the parts which lie in the base of theright seed-hopper, on a scale about half size. This section is on theline S S in Fig.6. Fig. 6 is a plan view representing some of the sameparts. In this view .the cap shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and the springswhich serve as cut-ofls for the seed are supposed. to have been removed.Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same and also of the main portion ofthe seed-tube on the plane indicated by the line S S in Fig. 6. 'Fig. 8is an attempt to represent another relation or condition of the parts.It section of two small portions of the same parts on two differentlines to show the mode in which they match together at certain periods.The portion of the fork H is on the line S S in Fig. 6, and the portionof the seed-wheel I is on the line S S in the same figure. Fig.9

is afront view of a portion, showing the controlling-slide 'W in theposition for holding the drill mechanism out of use. Fig. 10 is acorresponding view, showing the slide in the position for allowing thedrill mechanism to be operated and adjusted. Fig. 11 is a view of theunder side of one of the seed-boxes. It is a section on the line S S inFig. 1, looking from below upward.

Similar letters .of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

'Tints are used to aid in distinguishing parts, and do not indicate thematerials intended, which may be wood and iron.

My invention relates to means for allowing the driver to shift hisweight forward and backward on the machine; for adapting the machine forwider and narrower spaces between the rows; for transferring the seedfrom the hoppers to the seed-tubes; for adapting the machine to plant indrills or in hills without check-rowing; for disconnecting the drillmechanism when planting in check-rows, and for scraping the surfaces ofthe drums or supporting-wheels.

To enable others skilled in-the art to make and use my invention,-I willproceed to describe it by the aidot' the drawings and of the letters ofreference marked thereon.

A isthe right side or the right half of the framing. A is thecorrespondin'glet't half, and A A, &c., areintermediate portions of theframing which connects these parts. The peculiarity of the constructionin connection with the parts A A A will be described farther on. Theforward portion of the framing, which carries the runners andseed-hoppers, is connected to the main portion ofthe framing by ajointor axis in the manner described in' my patent'dated May 8, 1855.- Thebolt which forms the axis extends through the seed-boxes, as indicated.

B B are the cylindrical drums or supporting-wheels. G G are theseed-tubes in the runners, and D D are the seed-hoppers. E is a leveradapted to be operated by hand and to communicate the proper motion tothe plan ting mechanism when planting in check-rows.-

All these parts are similar in their general construction and operationto corresponding parts described in the patent before referred to.

The elevated ways a are firmly supported in the fixed framing in themanner represented. F is a movable seat, which is supported on aroller,f, and on which the driver may move himself forward and backwardonthe ways a with great-facility. The seat F'is supported in its properposition by the side arms, f, and

'the roller f which extends across under the longitudinal piece a, andis kept up to its at each end forks, the form of which is indishaped asrepresented, and are adapted to rewheels l l by the thrusting of theforward proper position by the slight additional longitudinal piece a.

The several pieces marked A may be made of cast-iron.. They inclose theinner ends of rectangular cross-pieces of 'the framing A A in the mannerrepresented plainly in Figs. 1,. 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10. The inclosedcross'pieces are provided with two or more holes, and by removing thebolts G G both the side frames, A A with their several attachments, maybe moved bodily in ward or made to approach each other until adift'erent'series of holes in A. and. A coincide with the holes in A.and receive the bolts G G The transverse reciprocating bar H H H whichis operated by the handlever E, is similarly constructed, so that theinner ends of the side pieces, H H may becorrespondingly' moved andsecured within the central part, H. '()n tightening the nuts on thesebolts G G in their new positions the entire framing A A A and thecross-bar H H H are all again made rigid, and the machine" is adaptedagain to operate, but planting in rows nearertogether than before. Thereverse operation widens the machineand correspondin gly widens thespace's between the rows. The transverse. reciprocating bar H H Hcarries cated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

The seed is measured oil and transferred from the seed-hoppers into theseed-tubes by means of horizontal wheels 1'1 which are ceive the seed inperforations or seed-cupsi i and by the rotation of these wheels tocarry the contents of the cups under suitable cutoil's, J J to deliverinto the seed-tubes. These wheels 1 I are operated with a positive motion just far enough and no farther at each movement of the hand-lever Ein either direction. The lever E, being pulled by the operator, turns onits fulcrum e. and carries the reciprocating bar H H H to theright. Thismovement gives a partial rotation to both wheels I I. It effects thisby,thrusting the forward arm of the fork-11' against one of the teeth ofthe wheel I and by pulli'ng'the hook or shoulder on the rear arm of thefork H against one of the teeth of the wheel 1 The return movement ofthe hand-lever'E' moves the bar H H H in the opposite direction, andgives an equal further motion to both the seedarm of the fork H againsta tooth of the wheel 1 and by the drawing action of the rearward arm ofthe fork H, which. is provided with a shoulder or book, K, correspondingto the befbre-describedhook. The wheels I and 1 are by these operationsturned equally at each movement of the lever B.

The form given to the teeth or projections on the seed-wheels I l and tothe parts of the forks H H which come in contact therewith is veryimportant and requires a very particular. explanation. When the movementof the bar H H H in either direction is effected rapidly the inertia ofthe wheels I 1 tends to conat theperiphery. The upperhalf of thisthickness'is'diflerently formed at-the periphery from the correspondingpart of the lower half, and performs a different function. The lowerhalf presents anglesin this part which are designated L. Thecorresponding points on the upper half are rounded, and aredistinguished by the letter I. The form of the inner faces of the armsof-the forks H H is also important. At

the points on the inner surfaces of theforks H H which at the end ofeach of the sudden movements lie opposite to theslight projections orobtuse angles L the fork has :a per pendicular face extending its fulldepth; but

when the succeeding or return movement of v the bar H H H has progresseda little way a i recess, h, which is formed, as represented, on eachinner face of the forks H. H is presented to the corresponding angle, L,and the angle enters it, thus allowing the wheel to turn freely again'inobedience to the impulse which it then commences to receivefrom theother arm of y the fork, and thus the operation proceeds with certaintyand precision. v;

P P are castings which serve as covering plates or caps for myseed-wheels I11 The openin gs therein to present the-seed to theseedwheels extend around nearly the entire work- 4 ing-surfaces of thelatter. There-is a broad projection extending over that part of thewheel where the seed is delivered to the seed tubes and 12'' are slenderarms or'agitators cast upon the caps and standing in the positionsrepresented. Each entire cap, with the several projections referred toand the attached cut-01f J or J is removable on turning thecorresponding wedge-shaped button, d or d andraising the cap on thatside, so as to draw it out in the obvious manner.

The oflice of my cut-ofi's-J J is to form a yielding or elastic bar toseparate the seed in the seed-cups fromtheir companions as therevolution of the seed-wheels present them.

thereto. I'employ elastic plates of metal for the purpose. are to bethus treated at the same time in each seed-wheel, and I provide fourcorresponding springs or cut-offs, arranged as represented by Theseed-tubes G C are formed in the widenedrear ends of the runners. M is afixed partition standing therein in the position represented, and thevibrating valve or flipper'N is correspondin gl y divided to adaptitself th ereto. The upper extremity of 'each' flipper is,

urged in opposite directions by the projections 1 and 2 on the rear armof the corresponding forked part at each half movement or change Thereare four seed-cups which 1 40,615 I Y Y 3 of position of the bar H H Hfrom one extreme position to the other, and performs the same duties asin my former patent above referred to. The fixed partition M is made ofsheet metal, as represented,'and is thin at its upper edge. Each is soplaced as to receive the seed from some of the seed-cups z" "i on itsfront side and the seed from others on its rear side. They increase inthickness below, so as to separate the seed in front a considerabledistance from the seed in the rear of the partition. A continuation, m,of the partition below the pivot n is matched into the fixed part M, andis narrowed in the transverse direction at the base, as represented inFig. 7. It is fixed on and vibrates with the flipper N. I thus avoiddividing the latter at the bottom. The.two quantities of seed may beseparated by this means to any distance desired, within reasonablelimits, by using very capaciousseed-tubes and modifying the form of thelower parts of the partitions, as will be obvious to mechanics. I preferto divide it about two inches, as indicated in the drawings.

Z Z, &c., are slides which may be readily adjusted by the attendant.They are adapted each to cover a portion of the top of its re-' spectiveseed-tube and to prevent the dropping of any seed from one correspondingseedcup 13 F. It will be observed that these slides coincide in positionwith the four seed-cups which deliver at the same time, and in practiceI have found that with the proportions and arrangement indicated but onegrain of corn is ordinarily carried in each seed-cup.

The four seed-cups in each wheel which deliver simultaneously are'allarranged in radial series. The several slides Z are adapted to closethree in each series and prevent the seed therein from dropping out. Iprovide a narrow slide, 2, adapted'to but partially cover the remainingcup in each series, and I provide a transverse slide, 0, adapted to lockeither or all the slides in either the open or shut position; asdesired. It effects this by standing in contact with knobs'orprojections on the under side'of the latter, as represented. By drawingoutall the slides I plantfour grains ot'corn in each bill. If I slide inone of the slides Z, I plant but'three grains in each hill. The drawingrepresents all the slides forced in, and my machine may by such means beadjusted to plant no corn at all. The narrow slide 2 is sufficientlywide to stop a grain of corn, and either of the slides may be openedorclosed with equal effect in planting corp.

Itissometimesdesirable to plant seeds which are considerably smallerthan corn. In such case one of my small seed-cups alone may contain asufljcient quantity, in which easel close the three slides Z Z Z andleave one, 2, open. In some cases-as, for example, in .plantingbroom-corn, sorghum, &C.8Vll one entire seed-cup may contain too large aquantity of such seed, and it is desirable to be able to re tain a partof the contents of a cup and deliver into the seed-tube the remainder. Iaccomplish this by the aid of my narrow slide 2, which is only wideenough to close about two-thirds of the corresponding seed-cup. By

pushing in or closing all the slides I plant at 7 so as to plant moreor-less at pleasure; but I do not in practic e consider it necessary todo so.

I will now describe the parts by which I operate these wheelsautomatically and veryrapidly when planting in drills. The distanceapart at which the seed may be deposited in the rows or drills 'by theaid of my invention may be determined with great accuracy, and a varietyof distances may be selected. I usually construct the machine so thatthe seed may be dropped at either of the following distances apart:eight and one-half inches, fourteen inches, twenty-one inches, and fortytwoinches. The'variations in the distances are produced by varyingthenumber of pins, which are an ranged in a circular series on the-innerface of the wheel B.

Tare the pins referred to. They are firmly set by screwing them tightlyin corresponding holes, t, in a stout metal ring. These holes aredistributed so that on reducing the number of pins the remainder may beequally distributed around the entirecircle.

U is a yoke or slide adapted to reciprocate forward and backward,according as its inclined faces a are alternately acted on by the pinsT. Anti;friction wheels are provided to aid in reducing the resistanceto its motion.

V is a bell-crank lever, mounted on a fixed fulcrum, v, and adapted toreciprocate in the horizontal plane, according as the yoke U isoperated. The long .arm of this lever extends forward,and is adapted tobe con uected at pleas are to the seeding apparatus by dropping itsextremity into a slot in the part H.- In this condition the machine isdriven forward, and the action of the pins T induces a vibrating motionof the bell-crank lever V, and conscto the planting by hand. Thediiference is that l in this drilling or automatic planting lastdescribed the hills are-not arranged in checkrows, and the corn cannotconsequently be eultivated by crossplowing; but by disconnecting theseparts and operating by the hand-lever E,- instead of by my drillingmechanism, the hills may be check-rowed very accurately.

When planting by the aid of the handlever E it is well not only todisconnect the lever'V by lifting its forward extremity out of-the slotH,

but also to prevent the lever V'from vibrating ter'is fixed in theframe-work. On leaving this sliding lever W at liberty. it assumes aposition in which it becomes of no effect; but on drawing it forcibly tothe right and-thrusting its right extremity under the stop or bookw,which is fixedon the framingfit holds the lever V in' such apositioirthat its inclined faces a .u are carried too far forward to betouched, and the'pinsT traverse freely around ithoutcomingincontactwithanything; This is the condition represented in Figs. land 2.

- X X are scrapers mounted on eyes :0, so that they are free to turn. YY arelevers connected therewith in the manner represented, and free toturn on 'the fixed fulcra'y. The forward ends of these levers are withinreach of the operator, and by placing his foot on either or on' both atonce the corresponding scrapers may be pressed-w'th sufficient forceagainst the peripheries 0 their "respective wheels. On removingthe footthe gravity of the parts induces a removal of theiscrapers to a littledistance, as represented. The levers Y Y may be'dispensed with, ifdesired, by extending the arms X X**'backward' instead of forward fromthe eyes a: and applying the foot or other force directly thereto; but Iprefer the arrangementshown.

It will be observed that, while my parts A embrace and completelyencircle the inner ends of the transverse pieces A A, it is notessential to the tightness of the fitting together of the parts that A Ashall be exactly equal in size to the interior of the casting A, becausethe nuts and washerswhich are fitted on the bolts G G do not bearagainstthe cross parts of" the box-casting A, but are let up into thelarge cavities therein, so as to bear directly'against the wood A A andhold the whole very firmly.

It will be perceived that byduplicating the partitionsM m a separateseed-passage or seedtube may be provided from each of the seedcups whichdeliver simultaneously, so that the contents of each may thereby beseparated with certainty and to a"fixed distance each from the other.

Pawls or springs may be used on the inner faces of the forks H H ifpreferred, in addilion to the devices shown, in order to render theaction of the same on the teeth of I 1 more certain; butI have not foundsuch necessary in practice.

Some of the advantages due to certain featuies'of my invention may beseparatelyenumerated as followsa First, by reason of my traversing seat.F, wheels f and f and guides at and a, the driver is able to shift hisweight forward and backward withless friction and to maintain a; .bet-

ter'seatgin either'positien than in my patent of 1855, above referredto, or any other known to me.

Second, by reason of my construction of the I framing in three distinctparts'or sets of parts,

A A A ,'applied together and secured in" themanner represented, I amable towidenand narrow my frame with great facility and very.nniforh1ly"and to hold the parts very rigidly when secured in theseveral'positions.

Third, by reason of my, metal socket Hand adjustable end pieces, H 11 inthe seed-bar used, in combination with corresponding provisions forwidening and narrowing the frame, -I am able to readily widen andnarrownot only the frame, but also the entire machine and all themechanism thereof.

Fourth, by reason of my employmentofsecdwheels operated, performingcomplete revolu tions by increments, worked by hand, and ar ranged inthe manner shown, I am able to plant by the same movements of the leverE as in my patent of' 1855, and realize the same advantages-therefrom,and-can expose the seedcups for a longerperiod to receive the seed.

; Fifth, by reason of my seed-dropping wheels 1 and the forks on theseed-bar, arranged to opgive the desired progressive motion to therotating wheels with very simple movements,

and movement's to which farmers have become accustomed bythe use ofother machines, so that veryiittle practice is required to operate mymachine. successfully. I

Sixth, by reason ofn' y construction and arrangement of the pins T, yokeU, lever V, sliding lever W, and stop w, I am able, with little laborand very simple means, to disconnect the drill mechanism and hold-itmotionless, so as to prevent its working us'elessly.

Seventh, by reason of my construction and arrangement of the parts 3 X YY whereby the V-shaped wheel-scrapers X X are sup ported and operatedindependently each of the other, I am able to bring either or both intoand out of action at will with very little efl'ort,

and I produce no resistance and induce no wear of the parts, except onthe wheel, which may'require to be scraped.

Having-now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,and desire to secure bythis patent, (marked A,)'is as follows:

.1. In combination with a seed-planting machine having its seedingdevices forward of the center of the wheels, a, movable seat, F, with 7wheels f and f and guides a and a, for the purpose. described. v

2. In combination with the operative parts of aseedplanting machine, themetal sockets A", constructed. as shown, and arranged for use incombination with the sideframes, A A, for the purpose of widening andnarrowing the machine in the manner and for the purpose specifiedherein.

3. The employment ofa correspondingmetal socket, H, and adjustable sideparts, H H, in combination with a frame, A A A or its equivalent, sothat the seed-bar shall be shortened and. lengthenedtocorrespondwith'thechanges in width of the frame, substantially asherein I specified.

4'. In a contmuonsly-progr'essing seed-plant 1ng machine wherein theseed-dropping mechanism is operated by an attendant, incontradistinction-to automatic dropping, the operatin g of horizontalseed-wheels by hand, so as to make complete revolutions by increments,substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set forth.

5.-In seed-planting machines, the-employ ment of a seed-dropping wheeland operatingfork, combined and arranged as herein represented anddescribed, so that the'movement of the fork inone direction will act onthe wheel to turn it to a certain exteht in a certain direction and themovement of the fork in the opposite direction will act on "the wheel toturn it toa certain extent in the same direction as before, thus turningthe wheel by increments around in one uniform direction byreciprocatingmovements ofth'e fork, as herein set forth.

